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Inspired by a screening of Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Happy Hour” in 2015, Yui Kusakari decided to enter the Department of Cinema at Nihon University College of Arts to study scriptwriting. The Tokyo-born director is part of “Todaimori”, a collective of visual and musical artists. His first feature film, “Long Night”, explores the emotional turmoil that arises from the loss of a beloved person and presents a surprising reunion that creates a great deal of sensation. The film will have its World Premiere at the Skip City International D-Cinema Festival.

Long Night is screening at Skip City International D-Cinema Festival

It’s been two years since the night Kai disappeared on a beach. His best friend, Koichi, and his former girlfriend, Mari, became a couple, but their relationship is still marked by that tragic incident. Uncertain about Kai’s whereabouts and even speculating about his death, one day, Koichi meets Kai by accident on the street.

The Golden Bachelorettestar Joan Vassos has been engaged to Chock Chapple since late in 2024, but has opened up about their arrangement more than once and is now sharing that marriage could strain their relationship. Throughout The Golden Bachelorette season 1, viewers watched as Joan and Chock fell for one another despite feeling like he had red flags. Chock seemed to be a bit too non-committal for Joan, but when the pair wound up together by the end of the season, viewers accepted it. Now, waiting for wedding bells, Bachelor Nation hasn't seen much progress from the happy couple.

On the Bachelor Happy Hourpodcast, Joan and Chock shared that the pace of their relationship might make marriage a struggle right now, as they've both become so busy. Maintaining a long-distance romance, Chock and Joan continue to carve time out of their busy schedules to visit one another in their native Maryland or Kansas,...

A Wheel of Fortune contestant said she had no clue what a word was in her Bonus Round puzzle which resulted in her losing out on an additional $40,000. This makes it the eighteenth Bonus Round loss in a row, causing fans to complain. Amy Johnston, from Schertz, Texas, played against Misha Graves, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Jon Reinink, from Indianapolis, Indiana, on Wednesday, May 21. Graves, who has been married for nine years with seven children, solved the first two tossups for $3,000. She also solved the first puzzle — “Hula Hoops and Happy Hour” — giving her a huge lead. Johnston, who used to open for an Elvis impersonator at a Chinese restaurant, finally got on the board when she solved the Mystery Puzzle — “Ice Cream In a Waffle Cone.” She gained a substantial lead when she guessed most of the letters in the Prize Puzzle and then solved it — “Shake off the Winter Blues.

Gerry Turner failed to sustain his marriage to Theresa Nist after The Golden Bachelor. However, he fell in love again, and not long ago, he confessed to that. Now, he’s opened up and revealed who he’s dating. Read on to find out more.

More News About A New Love

TMZ reported that Turner delivered the tea about his new woman this week. In their exclusive, he told them that she’s slid into his DMs on Facebook. At first, he ignored her, but she persisted, and his interest perked right up when he found out she was a local resident.

Gerry with his new woman – TMZ – Instagram

Part of the problem with Theresa was their long-distance relationship. The outlet cited the ABC star as saying that they met up and he took her “to a restaurant on their first date in March … and, they’ve been basically inseparable since,...

Isa Antonetti is making her Broadway debut in the new musical Buena Vista Social Club and she gives a performance that will be remembered!

The newcomer plays the role of Young Omara in the new show, which is inspired by true events and brings the Grammy Award-winning album of the same name to life.

The legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo actually attended the opening night performance of the musical and visited with Isa and actress Natalie Venecia Belcon, who plays the older version.

We caught up with Isa to learn more about her. Check out 10 Fun Facts below!

I love communicating in gifs over text. It makes me laugh and that’s all that matters. I love a dollar oyster Happy Hour! My first show was High School Musical 2 as Gabriella. I’m always craving Asian cuisine. Always. The first award I won was my elementary school Spanish Spelling Bee.

Isa Antonetti is making her Broadway debut in the new musical Buena Vista Social Club and she gives a performance that will be remembered!

The newcomer plays the role of Young Omara in the new musical, which is inspired by true events and brings the Grammy Award-winning album of the same name to life.

The legendary Cuban singer Omara Portuondo actually attended the opening night performance of the musical and visited with Isa and actress Natalie Venecia Belcon, who plays the older version.

We caught up with Isa to learn more about her. Check out 10 Fun Facts below!

I love communicating in gifs over text. It makes me laugh and that’s all that matters. I love a dollar oyster Happy Hour! My first show was High School Musical 2 as Gabriella. I’m always craving Asian cuisine. Always. The first award I won was my elementary school Spanish Spelling Bee.

Gerry Turner from The Golden Bachelor was quiet for a long time, but he recently opened up about his life since he ditched Theresa Nist three months after they tied the knot. Among other things, he talked about his cancer.

The Cancer Is Not Curable

Last December, Bachelor Nation learned that Gerry was diagnosed with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a type of bone cancer. Fans know he enjoys playing games like pickleball, but after injuring himself, follow-up doctor visits revealed an issue. It turned out to be a rare form of cancer, and there is currently no cure.

While it’s not curable, the cancer can be managed and it is quite slow-growing. Recently, when the former Golden Bachelor appeared with Joe and Serena on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, he talked about dating a new woman, and he also gave a cancer update.

Gerry On The Podcast – YouTube

During his chat,...

Gerry Turner is living life to the fullest after finding out that he has a slow-growing and incurable cancer.

The Golden Bachelor fans learned about his diagnosis late last year, less than a year after marrying Theresa Nist, during a live broadcast on ABC.

The diagnosis was a life changer for both Gerry and Theresa and was cited as one of the reasons for their quick divorce last year.

Ever since, Gerry has been staying busy traveling and exploring as he enjoys his twilight years, maximizing what time he has left.

But, despite dumping Theresa just months after their wedding, Gerry has not been doing life alone lately.

On Tuesday, April 15, he gave a life update. While sharing the latest on his health, Gerry dropped another bomb—he’s been dating someone.

Gerry Turner shares an update on his health, life after cancer diagnosis

Gerry Turner is no stranger to the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast,...

The Bachelorcouple Kaity Biggarand Zach Shallcross are tying the knot in 2025! Biggar and Shallcross met and fell in love during The Bachelor Season 27, which aired in 2023. The couple has been going strong since then, and even got engaged again when Shallcross proposed to Biggar for a second time back in November 2024. While the couple has previously claimed that they are in no rush to get married, it seems like they’re ready to make things official.

During the March 19, 2025, episode of theBachelor Happy Hourpodcast, Biggar confirmed the big news. However, she chose to keep the exact date of her and Shallcross’ nuptials under wraps. Biggar also shared that the two of them will have a simple city hall ceremony rather than an extravagant wedding. According to the reality star, she and Shallcross made the decision after they started planning their wedding and received quotes ranging from $70,000 to $80,000.

Biggar revealed that...

“Tamron Hall” is serving up a “Happy Hour” this Tuesday, with a mix of laughter, health advice, and a real-time gut challenge. It’s an episode designed to boost both your mood and your well-being. Emmy®-winning comedian Dulcé Sloan, known for her appearances on “The Daily Show,” brings her signature wit and humor to the stage […]

Tamron Hall: Dulcé Sloan, Dr. Steven Gundry...

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Meghan Markle has once again given the public a glimpse into her private life.

And she’s once again paying the reputational price for it.

Last month, the former actress offered up a rare photo of daughter Lilibet in order to promote her As Ever brand launch.

(As previously detailed, the mother of two announced via social media recently that she was renaming her lifestyle brand from American Riviera Orchard to As Ever.)

Meghan Markle speaks onstage at Ean University on August 15, 2024 in Bogota, Colombia. (Getty Images)

On Saturday, March 1, meanwhile, Markle uploaded candid photos of three-year Lilibet spending time with her “auntie” Serena Williams at home as they celebrated the upcoming launch of Meghan’s Netflix series With Love, Meghan.

In a footage shared on Markle’s Instagram Stories, the toddler was spotted in a precious pink top and floral-printed leggings as she stood next to the tennis legend…...

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Meghan McCain is not here to mince words.

She doesn’t want to be beat around any bushes.

The former View co-host is about to tell it like it is when it comes to Meghan Markle. Yes, folks, are you ready for some Meghan-on-Meghan crime?

Meghan McCain attends the 2023 TIME100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 26, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Time)

“I cannot stand her,” the 40-year old, said on the February 19 episode of Meghan McCain’s Happy Hour digital series.

“I love people that I can relate to, like every other 40-year-old mom. I don’t want to eat her jam. I love Princess Kate [Middleton].”

This isn’t the first time McCain has criticized Markle. She also blasted Markle after seeing the trailer for her relatively new Netflix series, With Love, From Meghan.

“I was originally a Meghan Markle supporter,...

Normal Gossip, Call Her Daddy and Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang are among the titles in contention for the podcast of the year at the 2025 iHeartPodcast Awards.

The high-profile category also includes the podcasts Three, Giggly Squad, Hysterical, The Telepathy Tapes, Who Killed JFK?, Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD and The Good Whale. Fans will vote on the winner starting Jan. 7 through Feb. 16.

New Heights, hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce, took home the prize of podcast of the year at the 2024 ceremony.

In addition to the 29 competitive categories, which span several genres, the iHeartPodcast Awards will also present three icon awards that honor podcasts and creators who have made groundbreaking contributions to the industry. Sarah Spain, an Emmy and Peabody award-winning journalist and host of Good Game, will be honored with the 2025 Social Impact Award for her role in championing equity in sports coverage,...

Guy Gansert might not have received the final rose on The Golden Bachelorette, but he just revealed if he had planned to propose to Joan Vassos if the finale tilted in his favor. Before The Golden Bachelorette season 1, Joan had said she didn't need to get engaged to consider this journey a success. After The Golden Bachelor's Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist got divorced after only three months as a married couple, all eyes were on Joan to see if she would follow the same path or forge a new way forward to ensure a better outcome.

Guy Gansert revealed whether he would've proposed to Joan Vassos if he had been the winner of The Golden Bachelorette.

Guy recently appeared on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast and revealed whether he would've proposed to Joan if he ended up as the winner of The Golden Bachelorette. The runner-up admitted that...

In a recent episode of Jeopardy!, fans were upset with the grammar used in a phrase. A few debated the issue on social media. Even a former contestant on the show shared their thoughts on the issue.

Even Dictionaries Seemed Mixed On The Issue

The episode aired on Halloween, October 31, 2024. Returning champion competed against Greg Jolin and Alicia Buffa.

During the first round, Jolin picked the $200 clue in a category called “A Question of Time.” As the clue read: “The Navy popularized this alliterative term for scheduled entertainment time; it’s caught on at bars around the world.”

Greg Jolin on ‘Jeopardy!’ – YouTube

Jolin gave the desired response with “Happy Hour,” which host Ken Jennings accepted. However, some fans thought the question could have easily cost a contestant the game.

The issue for many was that the phrase was described as “alliterative.” The two words that make up “Happy Hour” do share the same letter,...

Golden Bachelor alum Nancy Hulkower appeared on a podcast recently where she talked about Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos setting up men from her season with some of her friends. Apparently, there has been interest expressed by some of the ladies as to whether or not any of the men would be a good match. It even seems Joan obliged as rumors are flying that Leslie Fhima and Jordan Heller are dating. What does Nancy think about it all? Keep reading to find out more.

Nancy Hulkower Dishes On Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos Hooking Up Friends

Golden Bachelor alum Nancy Hulkower didn’t fall in love with Gerry Turner. However, she did find lifelong friends and one of those is Joan Vassos. While Joan was filming her season of The Golden Bachelorette, producers asked Nancy to go to Tahiti with them to surprise Joan to help her through a rough time.

Jeopardy! fans are quick to call out questionable clues. However, in the October 31 episode, grammar sticklers zeroed in on something specific: a possible misuse of alliteration with the phrase “Happy Hour.” The contestants were returning champion Joseph Carlstein, a graduate student from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Greg Jolin, a system specialist and accountant from Raymond, New Hampshire, and Alicia Buffa, a translator from Montreal, Quebec. In the Jeopardy! round, Jolin, selected the $200 clue in the “A Question of Time” category. It read, “The Navy popularized this alliterative term for scheduled entertainment time; it’s caught on at bars around the world.” He responded, “Happy Hour.” Ken Jennings ruled him correct, as this was the desired response. But many fans on Reddit and elsewhere were not so convinced. While some shared they enjoyed learning that the term originated with the Navy, quite a few argued that “Happy Hour” does not meet...

Undoubtedly, The Bachelorette star, Jenn Tran and Jonathon Johnson have something special, but is there still hope for a deeper relationship? Is there still chemistry between Jenn Tran and Jonathon Johnson that could bloom into more?

Jenn Tran And Jonathon Johnson Had A Great Start

Although Jenn Tran’s season of The Bachelorette ended in tears, is there still hope for her to walk arm-in-arm with one of her suitors? Some people think that Jenn and Jonathon Johnson need to embrace the rumors circulating and make it official. During the show, it was obvious to Jonathon’s family that they had something special. However, Jenn confided in his mother that Jonathon needed to open up more. Likewise, the season was full of beautiful, Hallmark-esk dates and moments where they laughed and had a great time. But is there truly chemistry between the duo? Without a doubt, the idea has swirled...

The Golden Bachelor's Gerry Turner broke Leslie Fhima's heart, but will the two get back together and give it another shot? Since his divorce from 71-year-old Theresa Nist, the 73-year-old retired restaurateur's taken the brunt of the blame for the split, which has done serious damage to his reputation. One reason why fans were angry at Gerry was the fact that they felt he'd misled 65-year-old Leslie. Gerry met Leslie, a twice divorced fitness instructor, on night one of the Bachelor spin-off. She was one of 22 eligible older bachelorettes who had their hearts set on winning Gerry's final rose.

Gerry didn't hit it off with the quiet and subdued Leslie right away, as he was more attracted to some of the bolder personalities cast in The Golden Bachelor season 1, like Theresa and 60-year-old motorcycle enthusiast, Faith Martin. As the season progressed, Gerry and Leslie got closer, but, in the end,...

Real Housewives of New Jersey fans are slamming Teresa Giudice after the prices for one of her upcoming Meet N’ Greets were revealed. People can’t believe the Rhonj star is charging this much to meet her at a bar. Here’s what people are saying, plus how much Teresa is making.

Teresa Giudice Charges Crazy Prices To Meet Her In Tampa

Teresa Giudice is visiting Tampa, Fla. While she’s there, she has presented fans with the opportunity to meet her at a special event. On Friday, August 23, she will appear at MacDinton’s SoHo for “Teresa’s Happy Hour.”

Patron, Magic 94.9, and Nutrl have collaborated with the Rhonj star to put on the event. There may be some people who would be interested in meeting up with Teresa Giudice, but there is undoubtedly sticker shock going on after fans saw the price.

The actual meet n’ greet is only 30 minutes long from 7 p.

Bachelorette Jenn Tran opened up and revealed her frustration with Aaron Erb. He was faced with a big decision just a few weeks into the journey with Jenn. He had to leave filming to pursue his chance to become a fighter pilot or stay and try to win Jenn’s heart. In the end, he chose to chase his dream of being a pilot. He left and now she is spilling some tea about how she feels about it and also what her biggest frustration was about him. Keep reading to find out more.

Jenn Tran Reveals Real Feelings About Aaron Erb

Bachelorette Jenn Tran is opening up and sharing how she felt about Aaron Erb abruptly leaving the show. After thinking things through he decided to leave to pursue his dream of being an Air Force fighter pilot.

Jenn accepted his decision and wished him the best. Was she...

Kathy Swarts was labeled the villain of Golden Bachelor, but she and her friend, Susan Noles landed a nice podcast spot on the Happy Hour. However, she might have briefly regretted that as Susan blindsided her with a thirsty fan who wanted a date. Read on to find out how she responded.

Kathy Swarts Looking For Love?

Gerry Turner didn’t pick Kathy. In fact, the Golden Bachelor seemed irritated because Theresa Nist told him that she was told to “zip it,” when she talked about getting along with him so well. Initially, ABC fans didn’t like Kathy for that. But she grows on them now. In at least one instance, she grew on a fan very deeply.

Kathy Swarts, Askn, April, Susan, Kathy, and Nancy, The Golden Bachelor

Kathy Swarts and Susan Noles seem to be quite popular on their podcast. The Bachelor Nation stars have some inside info,...

Former Bachelor Ben Higgins has more details to share about his split from Lauren Bushnell, his former fiancée from the show. The two got engaged on the season 20 finale in March 2016 but called off their engagement in 2017 after starring in their own spin-off series, Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After?

So, what really went wrong?

Ben Higgins Spills Intimate Details About Lauren Bushnell Split

Ben Higgins and Lauren Bushnell jumped from one reality TV show right into another without a chance to enjoy their engagement. The CW show Ben & Lauren: Happily Ever After? was supposed to follow their journey to marital bliss. But they never even made it to the aisle.

In a new interview on the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast, the former Bachelor reflected on the split. He said that the two made the decision to end their engagement just days after wrapping up filming the reality show.

But the...

The Office writers doubled as actors, adding depth to the characters and humor of the show. Bj Novak wrote and acted in the series, contributing to memorable episodes and ongoing success. Mindy Kaling went on to create and star in hit shows after her time on The Office, showcasing her talent.

The talent pool of The Office writers also includes several actors on the show, a fact that lends itself to the sitcoms hilarious character-driven humor. NBC's The Office first premiered in 2005. Using the mockumentary format, The Office followed the lives of a large cast of characters in their professional and personal lives at the fictional paper company Dunder Mifflin. The show was noted for its character development throughout, a fact that was no doubt helped by some of The Office writers also being cast members.

Though audiences will undoubtedly know some writers of The Office also acted on the show,...

Days of Our Lives (Dool) spoilers for Tuesday, May 21 indicate some explosive moments in the land of Salem.

Next On Days Of Our Lives

One person is ready to hunt down their nemesis, while another issues an ultimatum, and three colleagues head out for happy hour, but may find some drama, instead.

What is set to unfold during Tuesday’s show? Time to dive right in!

Trending! Days Of Our Lives Spoilers: Chanel Wants To Keep The Baby-Is She Prepared For What Might Lie Ahead?

Chad Dimera Is Ready To Hunt Down Clyde Weston

Dool spoilers for Tuesday, May 21 hint that Chad Dimera (Billy Flynn) will turn to Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) for help in tracking down Clyde Weston (James Read).

Chad has his own reasons for wanting to find the drug lord, but can Steve lend a hand? Will he have any useful information for Dimera?

Ej Dimera’s Ultimatum

Across town,...

The best festivals point to the future, capture the zeitgeist, or honor the past. At Locarno in 2015, you could have had all three: Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Happy Hour (his first time premiering in a major competition), Chantal Akerman’s No Home Movie (the director in attendance just months before she died), and Hong Sangsoo’s Right Now, Wrong Then (a mid-career masterpiece), all played. So did Rick Alverson’s Entertainment, the final film of Andrzej Żuławski, and the directorial debut of Josh Mond, at the time best known for producing Martha Marcy May Marlene for Borderline, a company he established with Sean Durkin and Antonio Campos in 2003. Mond’s debut James White featured Cristopher Abbott’s first lead role and (one year before dazzling in A Quiet Passion for Terrence Davies) a Cynthia Nixon performance that made you sit up and take note. It won a prize in Locarno and another at Sundance.

The Bachelor season 28's Joey Graziadei's dad, Nick Graziadei, didn't see as much of a spark between him and Daisy Kent as he did with him and Charity Lawson. Nick saw the strong connection between Joey and his eventual fiance Kelsey Anderson. Nick felt relieved when he saw the spark between Joey and Kelsey.

The Bachelor season 28's Joey Graziadei's dad, Nick Graziadei, revealed that he didn't see the same spark between Joey and runner-up Daisy Kent when he first met her as he did with Joey and The Bachelorette season 20 star Charity Lawson. Joey got his Bachelor Nation start as Charity's runner-up. He fell in love with her and was ready to propose to her, but she chose to get engaged to Dotun Olubeko instead. Joey then continued his journey to find love on The Bachelor season 28. He got engaged to Kelsey Anderson at the end of the season,...

On a bright summer day in a tent on top of the sultry clay courts that give the Tennis Club Venezia its name, writer-director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi––known for his searing stories of love and longing and a taut, cryptic cinematic style all his own––saunters in tired but ready to talk, bags heavy under his eyes, tennis balls whopping back and forth in the distance. It’s 2023 and we’re on the Lido at the 80th Venice Film Festival. Hamaguchi’s latest feature Evil Does Not Exist has just debuted in competition to uncharacteristically rapturous applause.

The prolific, self-made Japanese auteur burst onto the scene at Locarno in 2015 with the success of the five-plus-hour Happy Hour. But despite the newfound popularity, Hamaguchi was a veteran. He’d already written and directed ten features and eight shorts, often teaming up with universities and research organizations that funded his crisp, sharp, sensitive...

In 2021, an epic three-hour Japanese film captured the hearts of viewers around the world: Drive My Car. The winner of the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival that year, Drive My Car went on to get nods at the Oscars, with nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and a win for Best International Feature Film. The mastermind behind Drive My Car is Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who first gained traction domestically in Japan when he was in graduate school.

Now, Hamaguchi is globally known, with movies like Happy Hour, Asako I & II, and Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy getting a lot of love on the international film festival circuit. His nomination for Best Director at the Academy Awards made him only the third Japanese director to receive such an acknowledgment.

Hamaguchis newest movie, Evil Does Not Exist, is another addition to his fantastic filmography. The winner...

Daisy Kent was one of the final two women on The Bachelor, but she almost didn’t make it past night one. Why not? Keep reading for what she has to say about her journey looking for love on reality TV.

Daisy Kent Reveals How She Ended Up On Dating Show

In the past, hopeful Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants filled out an application. But it seems more and more that the show’s producers rely on social media to find prospective candidates. Daisy Kent is one recent contestant who had producers reach out to her instead of her applying for the show on her own.

Joey Graziadei’s runner-up spilled all about her journey on an episode of the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast. She explained to hosts Joe Amabile and Serene Pitt exactly how her start in reality TV happened.

“I was making TikToks about a year ago about my...

Daisy Kent is opening up about her time on The Bachelor. In a new podcast interview, she shared that she actually forced her relationship with Joey Graziadei. What exactly did she say? Keep reading to find out more.

Daisy Kent Opens Up About Her Time On The Bachelor

Daisy Kent appeared on Bachelor Happy Hour and opened up about her time on the show with Joey Graziadei. She decided to end things with Joey at the end of his season because she knew he loved Kelsey Anderson. Now, she’s sharing even more about her relationship with Joey.

In her interview, what Daisy had to say is almost shocking. She told Serena Pitt and Joe Amabile that there was something missing between her and Joey. She said, “If I’m being honest, there was something always missing between us. And I felt in ways I was kind of trying to...

Evil Does Not Exist Photo: Janus Films There are few things more bone-chilling than the real-life evils set upon our planet and its people each and every day. This is the type of horror Japanese director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi is contending with in Evil Does Not Exist, the stirring and eerie follow-up to his Oscar-winning 2021 film,...

Evil Does Not ExistPhoto: Janus Films

There are few things more bone-chilling than the real-life evils set upon our planet and its people each and every day. This is the type of horror Japanese director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi is contending with in Evil Does Not Exist, the stirring and eerie follow-up to his Oscar-winning 2021 film,...

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi retreated into a rural village outside of Tokyo to make “Evil Does Not Exist,” his first film following the global success of “Drive My Car,” which won the 2022 Best International Feature Oscar. The Japanese director found himself perhaps uncomfortably in the worldwide spotlight after being known for indies like “Asako I & II” and “Happy Hour,” and so “Evil Does Not Exist,” winner of the 2023 Venice Silver Lion and Fipresci prizes, is a return to minimalist basics — an ecological parable wrapped up with unexpected thriller elements, and a movie he shot in secret.

IndieWire shares the exclusive trailer for the film, out in U.S. theaters May 3 from Sideshow and Janus Films, below. While “Evil Does Not Exist” wasn’t eligible for the International Feature Oscar due to its release date in Japan, Hamaguchi had a great run at the 2022 Academy Awards — along with the “Drive My Car” International Feature win,...

Rachel Nance has had a rough time since being sent home by Joey Graziadei on The Bachelor. Joey sent her home after fantasy suite dates. Rachel reconnected with Joey at the Women Tell All. She also addressed all the hate she has been getting on social media. After everything that happened, Rachel revealed if she felt blindsided by Joey sending her home. Keep reading to find out more.

Rachel Nance Reveals If She Felt Blindsided By Joey

After reuniting with Bachelor Joey Graziadei at the Women Tell All Rachel Nance stopped by the Bachelor Happy Hour podcast to talk about her time on the show. She admits that while she was heartbroken, she felt deep inside that her time with Joey was about to come to an end.

Rachel did not feel blindsided by Joey because of this. She continued to explain, “I think towards the end, he and I...

Three rising Japanese directors have revealed details of fresh projects they pitched to potential partners at the EFM in Berlin.

Akio Fujimoto, Masaaki Kudo and Yurina Kaneko and were selected from more than 20 candidates to take part in New Directors from Japan, an initiative to promote upcoming talent on the world stage commissioned by the government’s Agency for Cultural Affairs that is now in its third year.

Fujimoto is known for family drama Passage Of Life, which won two awards at Tokyo International Film Festival in 2017, followed by Along The Sea, which premiered at San Sebastian in 2020 and went on to win numerous awards.

Fred Warner is ready for game time!

The 27-year-old San Francisco 49ers linebacker is taking on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday (February 11) at the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

Of course, with so much attention surrounding the game, viewers are also interested in knowing more about the personal lives of each player, including their relationship status.

Keep reading to find out more…

Fred is married to Sydney Hightower, a former contestant on The Bachelor!

Sydney competed in Season 24, Peter Weber‘s season. She grew up in Alabama, enrolling at the University of Alabama.

During her season of The Bachelor, she discussed challenges growing up biracial in the south as the daughter of a White mother and a Black and Dominican father.

On the ABC series, she was dubbed the best kisser in the mansion by Peter, but was eliminated in Week 6. (Peter later said it was because he had...

It was more than eight years ago that the virtually unknown Ryusuke Hamaguchi premiered Happy Hour, a five-hour narrative masterclass about four thirty-something women coming to terms with their own lives and relationship to one another. Against all odds, Hamaguchi has since become one of the biggest names in world cinema. Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising to see him emerge as the preeminent influence on a fellow Japanese filmmaker––so appears to be the case with Toshihiko Tanaka’s Rei, the winner of the Tiger Competition at the 2024 International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Rei is a three-hour-plus, Tokyo-Hokkaido-set drama about Hikari, a thirty-something woman with a steady but unexciting job, an avid playgoing habit, and a concern that her life is a bit unexciting. She meets a favorite actor after attending a play with her friend, the mother of a nonverbal disabled child with a workaholic husband who rarely gets to go out.

SmartLess, Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus, On Purpose with Jay Shetty and Normal Gossip are among the titles in contention for the 2024 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards.

The category, which will be voted on by fans from Feb. 5 through Feb. 18, also includes popular podcasts Crime Junkie, The Daily, My Favorite Murder, New Heights, The Retrievals and Scamanda. Las Culturistas, hosted by Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers, took home the top prize last year.

Other competitive awards span 29 categories, including comedy, crime, news, tv and film, sports, food and business.

In the Icon Awards categories, which honor those who have made groundbreaking contributions to the industry, Wrongful Conviction hosts Maggie Freleng and Jason Flom will both be honored with the 2024 Social Impact Icon Award. Jonathan Goldstein, host of the Heavyweight podcast, will be honored with the 2024 Pioneer Icon Award.

The podcast Rotten Mango will receive the Innovator Award presented by YouTube, which...

International Film Festival Rotterdam winner and debuting director Toshihiko Tanaka is set to follow “Rei” with “Shumari,” once again set in Japan’s Hokkaido.

“Over there, you can find the largest artificial lake in the country. It’s man-made, but it still beautifully harmonizes with the surrounding nature, creating a stunning landscape. It will be a suspenseful film, but if I had to sum it all up, I would say: It’s about love,” he tells Variety exclusively after the win.

Referencing actual events that took place before and after World War II, it will recall the tragedy of forced labor victims. Working on dam construction, both Japanese and Korean workers lost their lives. Some of them still await a proper burial.

“Attempts to excavate and repatriate their remains continue,” he adds.

“I’m anticipating a much higher budget than I had for ‘Rei,’ but I will mostly focus on...

Ning Hao’s The Movie Emperor will screen as the opening film of Macau’s Asia-Europe Young Cinema Film Festival, which is holding its inaugural edition from January 5-11. Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail, recently a hit in India, will screen as the closing film.

The event has two major sections – a programme of masterclasses and screenings aimed at young directors, film students and local audiences, and a Works-in-Progress (WiP) Lab, which will be attended by international sales agents, distributors and festival programmers.

The masterclasses will be held by leading international filmmakers including several from the Chinese-speaking world – Ning Hao, Li Dongmei, Johnnie To, Yon Fan and Lee Hong-chi – along with Japanese filmmakers Ryosuke Hamaguchi and Shinya Tsukamoto, Russia’s Aleksey German Jr, Italy’s Gabriel Menetti, India’s Anurag Kashyap, Lav Diaz from the Philippines and Iranian filmmaker Amir Naderi.

China Film Directors Association is actively involved in...

Tyler Blevins is hosting a Happy Hour filled with tequila and footy. The gamer known as Ninja is the host of a new series that will follow him as he chooses a soccer team to support.

Blevins will host Happy Hour on his official Twitch channel, where he reaches more than 18 million followers. In each episode, the streaming star and his guests will enjoy beverages provided by official sponsor Camarena Tequila. As they imbibe, they’ll play EA Fc 24 and talk soccer. The guests — including Argentina legend Sergio Agüero and EA Fc streamer AA9skillz — will try to convince Blevins to support their favorite teams.

Happy Hour is the latest production to come out of the Ninja Labs initiative, which Blevins launched after taking a C-level role at gaming and entertainment firm GameSquare. The first product to come out of Ninja Labs was a gamified fitness platform called Vivior 4Sight.

The Moon Under Water is back with new host Robbie Knox, who takes over as landlord of the pub-based podcast. Robbie has been producing content for his own channels and more, as a writer, director, YouTuber and co-host of JaackMaate’s Happy Hour and now he intends to breathe a new lease of life into the pub of the mind. Rosie Holt, Lloyd Griffiths, Robin Ince and Tim Lovejoy are among the first names to join Robbie on the show, with more from the world of comedy, music, food and television to follow.

Amongst a typically raucous lineup at this year’s Venice Film Festival comes Evil Does Not Exist, a work in which tensions rise over little more than the placement of a septic tank. It’s the latest from director Ryusuke Hamaguchi and his first since 2021’s miraculous double-punch of Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy and Drive My Car. Evil concerns a clash of urban and rural sensibilities: a story about a small but hardy group of people who wish to stop the development of a glamping site. Devotees of Kelly Reichardt’s sylvan melancholies will feel perfectly at home.

A quiet, funny, confounding mystery, Evil plays out amongst the forests and streams of a remote village close to Tokyo. Tensions are raised when two representatives for the glamping company, Takahashi (Ryuji Kosaka) and Mayuzumi (Ayaka Shibutani), arrive to talk things over. The locals, in particular a man named Takumi, voice...

The Office has a large cast, yet Michael Scott easily stands out at the most cringe-worthy character of all. Leading the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin paper company, his constant need to gain approval from others or to appear popular caused him to make awkward blunders, but he never learned from his mistakes.

Deep down, Michael wasn't a bad person, which was why the likes of Jim and Pam didn't completely cut him off. Unfortunately for him, Michael so often made embarrassing mishaps that there are plenty of episodes to choose from that highlight just how cringe-worthy the manager was.

Related: 10 Funniest Workplace Sitcoms

Diwali

Putting Michael Scott in any social situation is a risk. There was a chance of him insulting someone he didn't even know or causing a problem for the other guests. However, on this occasion, he managed to a pull a cringe worthy display aimed at his then-girlfriend Carol.

The team behind beloved feminist podcast Witch, Please has launched a new flagship show, Material Girls, a scholarly podcast about pop culture.

Upon the conclusion of an eight-season run of Witch, Please (a podcast teaching critical theory through Harry Potter), hosts Hannah McGregor and Marcelle Kosman turn their academic expertise towards new objects of study in the zeitgeist.

For fans of Witch, Please and shows like Pop Culture Happy Hour, Maintenance Phase and You’re Wrong About, Material Girls offers a fresh approach to discussing pop culture of the past and present by asking: Why this, why now? Why do we like what we like, and what can pop culture teach us about how the world works?

“In every episode we begin with a piece of pop culture that has been a major part of the zeitgeist, whether that’s the Queer Eye reboot in 2018 or Barbie dolls in the 90s,...

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.

Roxy Cinema

Because the people of New York can’t get enough, the 35mm print of Rio Bravo we programmed has yet another screening on Sunday; Swingers, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Body of Evidence, and James Toback’s Black and White also play on film, while Madonna: Truth or Dare has a screening.

Museum of Modern Art

Films by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Kelly Reichardt, Harvard’s Sel, Maren Ade, and more play in a new series.

Film at Lincoln Center

A new 70mm print of Boogie Nights has begun daily showings.

Anthology Film Archives

Documentaries by the great Kazuo Hara are subject of a new retrospective, while work by the crew of How to with John Wilson is highlighted this Saturday.

Bam

A restoration of the recently rediscovered Tokyo Pop continues, while a new animation series includes Satoshi Kon’s Tokyo Godfathers.

“Evil Does Not Exist,” the next film from Oscar-winning “Drive My Car” filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi, has secured North American distribution from Sideshow and Janus Films, reuniting the filmmaker with the distributors of his 2021 Best Picture Oscar nominee.

The film will have its world premiere at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, screening in competition. In addition to its Venice world premiere, “Evil Does Not Exist” will screen as a Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival and in the Main Slate at the New York Film Festival. Sideshow and Janus Films will release the film in theaters after its festival run.

The film follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. One day, the village inhabitants become aware of a plan to build a glamping site near Takumi’s house,...

“Evil Does Not Exist,” the new drama film by “Drive My Car” director Hamaguchi Ryusuke, has been picked up for North American release by Sideshow and Janus Films.

The title will have its world premiere in competition at the Venice festival before playing as a special presentation in Toronto and the main slate of the New York Film Festival. Sideshow and Janus Films, which acquired all North American rights, expect to release the film in theaters after a run of top festivals.

The narrative follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. One day, the village inhabitants become aware of a plan to build a glamping site near Takumi’s house, offering city residents a comfortable escape to nature. When two representatives of the glamping company arrive...

“Evil Does Not Exist,” the next film from “Drive My Car” director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi, has landed North American distribution rights from Sideshow and Janus Films, which previously released “Drive My Car” to a Best Picture nomination in 2021.

“Evil Does Not Exist” is making its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival next month in competition, and it will also have a Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival and as part of the Main Slate at the New York Film Festival.

Sideshow and Janus Films will release the film in theaters after its fall festival run but did not specify a date.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis: “‘Evil Does Not Exist’ follows Takumi and his daughter Hana, who live in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. One day, the village inhabitants...